Gifford furthers language on golf-cart ordinance

GIFFORD — Village board members have started to solidify the language of a new golf cart ordinance.

It would allow residents with legal permits to drive carts and other utility task vehicles on certain roads within Gifford. Farmers would be exempt from having to procure a permit.

Trustee Stacy Severins said the plan is to have the ordinance go into effect after the first of the year. In the meantime, board members said they would need to keep residents from illegally using the vehicles.

"We'll have to make an effort to educate the community for now," trustee Brian Bennett said.

— Also, Bennett told the board about the treatment of ash trees in the village that have been affected by the emerald ash borer, a beetle that feeds on the conductive tissue of the trees.

Bennett said the cost to treat 20 trees would be about $4,800 and that other ash trees were too far gone to be saved. Other trustees suggested getting new saplings to replace all the affected trees for a similar price.